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Auction: 20001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - conducted behind closed doors
Lot: 616

The poignant campaign group of four awarded to Lance Corporal W. G. Woodgates, Grenadier Guards, who was shot four times but survived the fire of an AK-47 from 'Lone Wolf' attacker and rogue Afghan Policeman 'Gulbuddin' during the shocking attack on the unarmed Guardsmen at Checkpoint Blue 25 at Shin Kalay base in November 2009 - diving through a window to safety, five of his comrades paid the ultimate price on that fateful day

General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (25042591 Gdsm W G Woodgates Gren Gds); Iraq 2003-11, no clasp (25042591 LCpl W G Woodgates Gren Gds); Operational Service Medal 2000, for Afghanistan, 1 clasp, Afghanistan (25042591 LCpl W G Woodgates Gren Gds); Jubilee 2012, mounted court-style as worn, good very fine (4)

William G. Woodgates, a native of Cardiff, was severely wounded during the shocking attack at Checkpoint Blue 25 on 3 November 2009 that cost the lives of three of his comrades, including the Regimental Sergeant-Major, Warrant Officer Class I Darren Chant and eighteen-year-old Guardsman 'Jimmy' Major and two members of the Royal Military Police. Five other soldiers and two Afghan Policemen besides Woodgates were wounded when the 'Lone Wolf' gunman 'Gulbuddin' went on the rampage after the men had stripped off their armour and were taking a cup of tea. Woodgates smashed through a window to save his life but Major, who was sat next to him was not so lucky. Four bullets riddled Woodgates and he was evacuated for surgery and rehabilitation. The gunman was hunted by the Special Air Service.

Woodgates and fellow wounded servicemen were given a morale boost by the Welsh Rugby Football Union in 2013, as recalled by Wales Online with the title 'War Heroes Put Rehab on Hold to Meet Rugby Stars':

'After being shot four times by a rogue policeman in Afghanistan William Woodgates spends most of his time in rehabilitation.

But the Lance Corporal with the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, has been given a welcome break from his new routine in the form of a hospitality box at the Millennium Stadium for Wales’ Six Nations clash with Scotland. Along with three other injured soldiers, all of whom are undergoing treatment at the Primary Care Rehabilitation Facility St. Athan, L/Cpl Woodgates has been made a special guest of the Welsh Rugby Union for tomorrow’s much anticipated home game.

Ahead of the encounter the soldiers were invited into the Wales team room at the WRU national centre of excellence earlier this week and spent time meeting players and watching training.

L/Cpl Woodgates, who is from Skelmersdale but lives in Wales with his partner, described his ordeal of the November attack to the players.

Five soldiers were killed when a policeman opened fire on his patrol who had all removed their flak jackets to have a cup of tea at a police checkpoint in the Nad Ali district of Helmand Province. L/Cpl Woodgates was among five other soldiers seriously injured.

The Grenadier Guards have been at the forefront of some of the most intense fighting by the British Army in recent years and are currently serving their second tour of Afghanistan.

“It just shows that people actually care and are thinking about the soldiers who have been injured,” said L/Cpl Woodgates.

“You can’t imagine what it’s been like for the soldiers but little things like the players taking time out to meet you make your day and give you a real buzz.

“I’ve been to the Millennium Stadium a couple of times for the rugby and we are all very much looking forward to the game this weekend.”

The visit to the Wales camp was organised by St Athan physiotherapist Mark “Dot” Perkins and Wales team manager Alan Phillips.

“When we heard some of the stories from these lads who have literally put their lives on the line for the country it had a profound effect,” said Phillips.

“The least that we could do was invite them into our camp and, after listening to them, the players wanted to make sure the soldiers had a hospitality box on Saturday and the WRU have come up trumps.

“It really puts into perspective all the passion and the patriotism you have for your country as a sportsman and the sacrifices you make. It’s nothing really in comparison to what these boys are doing for the nation.”

Mr Perkins said the rehab work the soldiers do can be compared to the training and effort a top sportsman has to put in to prepare for an international.

“It’s been fascinating to see the intensity of the training sessions in the Welsh camp and it’s been a real motivational factor for these soldiers.“They report every day wearing their gym kit and they all have the three feathers emblazoned on their chest so that gave me the idea of getting in touch with the national team and seeing if they can help out.

“The response has been brilliant – not only did these four soldiers get to meet some of their heroes but we have a hospitality box for the game so we can bring some of the other guys down as well.

“They have to turn in every day to do their work and physio and sometimes the chins can drop, so things like this will really do wonders for their motivation and mental health and we can’t thank the WRU enough.”

Woodgates was medically discharged with a Pension on 3 January 2013; sold together with two letters related to discharge, his last Pay Slip, and copied research.

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Sold for
£950

Starting price
£420